Analysis · over time

How elections changed

Sikkim, 1979–2019. 9 general elections tracked.

Turnout

79.84%

↓ 3.63 pts from previous

Median margin

8.1%

↓ 5.75 pts from previous

Effective parties

2.2

↑ 0.12 from previous

NOTA

0.87%

↓ 0.57 pts from previous

Women elected

9.38%

↑ 0.0 pts from previous

[01]Turnout

Weighted votes ÷ electors, election by election

2019 79.84%32 seats

2014 83.47%32 seats

2009 83.79%32 seats

2004 68.43%32 seats

1999 81.83%32 seats

1994 81.76%32 seats

1989 72.28%32 seats

1985 64.14%32 seats

1979 65.13%32 seats

[02]How close the contests were

Median winning margin, election by election

2019 8.1%32 seats

2014 13.85%32 seats

2009 34.9%32 seats

2004 46.1%32 seats

1999 13.25%32 seats

1994 13.75%32 seats

1989 42.65%32 seats

1985 35.35%32 seats

1979 12.05%32 seats

[03]Ballot crowding

Candidates per seat over time

2019 4.7150 candidates

2014 3.8121 candidates

2009 5.2167 candidates

2004 2.891 candidates

1999 3.3105 candidates

1994 5.8186 candidates

1989 3.7118 candidates

1985 6.1195 candidates

1979 7.6244 candidates

[04]Party fragmentation

Effective number of parties by vote share

2019 2.22 of 10 won seats

2014 2.12 of 6 won seats

2009 2.01 of 9 won seats

2004 1.72 of 7 won seats

1999 2.23 of 5 won seats

1994 3.14 of 7 won seats

1989 1.91 of 5 won seats

1985 2.23 of 7 won seats

1979 4.74 of 8 won seats

[05]NOTA

None of the above, as a share of votes cast

2019 0.87%3,039 votes

2014 1.44%4,460 votes

[06]Deposits lost

Share of candidates polling under a sixth of valid votes

2019 56.67%85 of 150

2014 47.11%57 of 121

2009 63.47%106 of 167

2004 39.56%36 of 91

1999 36.19%38 of 105

1994 58.6%109 of 186

1989 52.54%62 of 118

1985 68.21%133 of 195

1979 70.9%173 of 244

[07]Women elected

Share of winners who are women

2019 9.38%32 seats

2014 9.38%32 seats

2009 12.5%32 seats

2004 10.71%28 seats

1999 3.12%32 seats

1994 3.12%32 seats

1989 3.12%32 seats

[08]Incumbent re-election rate

Share of sitting members who won again

2019 55.0%11 of 20 re-elected

2014 64.29%9 of 14 re-elected

2009 87.5%7 of 8 re-elected

2004 86.67%13 of 15 re-elected

1999 75.0%18 of 24 re-elected

1994 33.33%6 of 18 re-elected

1989 95.24%20 of 21 re-elected

1985 38.89%7 of 18 re-elected

[09]Computed insights

Arithmetic over the series above, not commentary

Turnout has fallen for three elections running: 83.79% (2009) → 83.47% (2014) → 79.84% (2019).
three consecutive falls
2019 was the most competitive election on record: a median margin of 8.1%, the lowest in the series.
all-time low median margin
Women's share of elected members peaked at 12.5% in 2009; in 2019 it was 9.38%.
peak 12.5% in 2009
In 2019, 55.0% of sitting members who re-stood were re-elected — below the series average of 66.99%.
55.0 vs avg 66.99 across 8 elections
NOTA peaked at 1.44% in 2014 — 4,460 voters chose none of the above.
highest NOTA share across 2 elections
The highest deposit-loss rate was 70.9% in 1979: 173 of 244 candidates polled under a sixth of the valid vote.
peak deposit losses in 1979